JOHNSTOWN —
Mark Critz, aide to the late Democratic Rep. John Murtha, won a special election to fill the final months of his boss’s term – a nationally watched contest considered a potential bellwether for this fall’s midterm election.
In a tight race, Critz brushed back a strong challenge from Tim Burns, a Republican businessman. The GOP had hoped to catch the seat Murtha held for 36 years by playing off growing opposition to congressional Democrats, tea party-driven discontent and unhappiness with President Barack Obama’s health care law.
In a gathering tonight at the Holiday Inn in downtown Johnstown, Critz thanked his supporters for their efforts.
"I am honored. I am humbled," he said. "But most of all, I am proud to stand before you as the next Representative of Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District!"
Critz, a longtime district aide, played up his ties to his old boss while fending off GOP criticism that he was a career bureaucrat who would blindly follow House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and liberal Democrats in Congress.
He stressed he was “pro-life, pro-gun” and determined to help a region hard-hit by job losses – Pennsylvania’s statewide unemployment rate is 9 percent – policy positions that mirrored Murtha’s. Democrats had a 2-to-1 edge over Republicans in voter registration in the socially conservative district.
"The voters of this district won a great victory tonight," Critz said. "But it’s a bittersweet, because we wouldn’t be here right now if Jack Murtha hadn’t left us too soon.
"Throughout this campaign, I’ve thought about the many lessons Congressman Murtha taught me when I served as his director of economic development. He often said to me, 'it’s about the work.' It is. And I’m going to work tirelessly every day in Congress for the families of western Pennsylvania."
Murtha, who was the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, died in February at age 77 of complications from gallbladder surgery, setting off a dash to the special election.
Critz had 53 percent of the vote compared with nearly 45 percent for Burns with 70 percent of precincts reporting, dealing an early blow to GOP hopes of taking control of Congress this fall.
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